WTAM Local News

Removing blighted eyesores

(Cleveland) - Cuyahoga County Council is being asked to a approve $50 million dollars in funding to demolish vacant, blighted homes.

Bonds would be sold to finance the removal of thousands of eyesores.

Council Executive Ed FitzGerald feels the program will pay for itself, by raising property values, and increasing property tax revenue.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty believes the removal of blighted homes will help bring down crime. Jim Rokakis, director of the Thriving Communities Institute feels people may decide to return to, or stay in these neighborhoods, instead of moving away.

Frank Ford, chairman of the Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council warns that it's not financially feasible to rehab most of these homes because property values have fallen so low.

Tim McGinty, Jim Rokakis, and Frank Ford.

He contends it would cost far more to rehab these houses than they would be worth on the open market.

FitzGerald hopes council will approve the legislation in May, and they can begin removing blighted homes by late summer or early fall.